Lola Oyelayo-Pearson is a black woman from the UK who has been working in digital systems for 17 years as a UX and product specialist. She started as a business analyst, before focusing energy into research, design, and development. After gaining her Bachelors of Engineering in Interactive Design Systems from the University of Birmingham, she collected her Masters in Human-Computer Interaction with Ergonomics from University College London, and currently works as the Director of UX for Money & Channels at Shopify. She frequently does talks and speeches and has written many articles about design.
As a guiding principle, Oyelayo-Pearson works with the intention of leaving the world better than it was before through design. She is an avid advocate for diversity and inclusion in design, and is heavily motivated by the possibility to create a positive impact on those who experience her work. Putting people ahead of technology and keeping user-centered design at the forefront of the conversation is something she strives for, and she strongly believes that, “We can use design as activism. We can talk to the design community about what we could be doing as designers to make that better.”
As a woman of color, she is more aware than anyone about the necessities of diversity when it comes to important community choices. The disproportionate amount of London’s black folk in psychiatric facilities leaves one wondering why black men are so much more vulnerable to mental health issues than people of other races, and if this is an issue that can be solved by design. Oyelayo-Pearson believes this is the case and that doesn’t have to be this way. Design can be used for good, and can make the difference it takes to make the world more suitable for those who exist in it. Rooted Innovation is an organization she is involved with that works to do this. Julian Thompson, a black service designer, founded it on the basis that it would collaborate with government teams on minority-related design decisions for their communities, and Oyelayo-Pearson’s participation further emphasizes her belief that design can and should be used for equity and activism.
Works Cited:
- “FFS Lola Oyelayo.” Futureheads, 9 Apr. 2018, www.wearefutureheads.com/news-and-views/ffs-lola-oyelayo.
- Lyonnais, Sheena. “Lola Oyelayo-Pearson On Diversity In Design: Adobe XD Ideas.” Adobe XD Ideas, 24 Sept. 2018, xd.adobe.com/ideas/perspectives/interviews/lola-oyelayo-advocate-diversity-design/.
- Oyelayo-Pearson, Lola. “Lola Oyelayo-Pearson | LinkedIn.” LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/lolaoyelayo/
